From campfire tales to true crime headlines, horror holds a powerful grip on American literature, cinema, and, by extension, Western culture. Hear why, from acclaimed author Jeremy Dauber making a rare UK appearance.

In American Scary: A History of Horror from Salem to Stephen King and Beyond, Jeremy Dauber traces the genre’s evolution—from its chilling origins to the present day. Iconic figures such as Edgar Allan Poe, Shirley Jackson, and Alfred Hitchcock take centre stage, alongside unexpected contributors such as Elia Kazan and Harriet Beecher Stowe. Columbia professor and acclaimed author of Jewish Comedy: A Serious History, American Comics, and Mel Brooks: Disobedient Jew, Dauber discusses his work with journalist Tanya Gold.

This event will last approximately 1 hour, without an interval.

About the speakers:

Jeremy Dauber is a professor of Jewish literature and American studies at Columbia University. His books include Jewish Comedy and The Worlds of Sholem Aleichem, both finalists for the National Jewish Book Award. More recently he is the author of Mel Brooks: Disobedient Jew and American Comics: A History. He lives in New York City.

Tanya Gold is a freelance journalist and restaurant critic for The Spectator. She won a British Press Award in 2010 and a Foreign Press Association Award in 2015.